Greg Paulus Has a Fan in Syracuse Coach Doug Marrone

According to Syracuse.com, Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone made a tear-filled defense of starting quarterback Greg Paulus at his weekly news conference on Monday. The testimony came after some fans booed the signal-caller during the team’s 28-7 loss to Cincinnati at the Carrier Dome on Saturday.

“I have never seen an athlete at any level -- including the NFL -- work as hard, mentally and physically, as Greg has worked since he’s joined us here at Syracuse,” Marrone said. “Really, what he’s accomplished is extraordinary. Maybe it can’t be fully appreciated because most don’t know just how difficult it is to play quarterback at a Division I program.

“In the era of video games, virtual reality," he added, "it’s easy to believe that throwing a pass, reading a defense, avoiding a sack is as easy as the push of a button, [something] that any of us can do. The problem, it’s not that easy. We can’t do that.”

Well, I think everyone expects me to go ahead and really give it to the Syracuse football program. But when a coach is this honest and forthright about the shortcomings of his own ability, and supports his players to this degree, I can’t come down too hard on them.

I don’t believe in moral victories and Syracuse doesn’t have a lot of notches in the win column this year, but this is something to behold.

Marrone puts it best. It’s easy for people to get mad at the Orange, unable to comprehend why the team can’t win. But has a culture of losing taken over at Syracuse? Certainly not.

Every week is a battle and every player, no matter the program, prepares just as hard for every opponent. You never go into a game expecting to lose, and this is what I think Marrone is trying to say. Every week, Paulus, despite a lack of on-field success, is preparing to his fullest and working his hardest.

Unfortunately we don’t see the blood, sweat and tears that go into the games -- because all we see are the four quarters. But players and coaches alike have spent countless hours in the weight room, film room and on the practice field leading up to each contest. 

I tip my hat to Marrone for bearing it all in front of the media and in the midst of a hostile culture at Syracuse. Well done, Coach.